Strawberry donuts are a delicious treat made by combining strawberries with a sweet dough batter and then frying or baking the donuts to perfection. The main ingredients in strawberry donuts are dough, strawberries, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, flour, leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda, and oils for frying. The strawberry flavor comes from either fresh strawberries or strawberry jam or jelly. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what goes into making these tasty donuts!
The Dough
The dough is the base of any donut. For strawberry donuts, the dough is typically made from all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk, and butter or oil. Here is a quick breakdown of how each ingredient functions in the dough:
- Flour – Provides structure and texture
- Sugar – Sweetens the dough
- Baking powder – Causes the dough to rise when baked
- Salt – Enhances the other flavors
- Eggs – Bind the ingredients together and add richness
- Milk – Hydrates the dough to make it soft and workable
- Butter or oil – Keeps the dough tender and adds flavor
The recipe for strawberry donut dough may also include additional ingredients like vanilla extract, lemon zest, or cinnamon for extra flavor. The ingredients are mixed together into a thick, smooth batter that can be portioned out and fried or baked into donut shapes.
The Strawberries
Of course, strawberries are essential for giving strawberry donuts their namesake fruity flavor. There are a few different ways strawberries can be incorporated:
- Fresh strawberries – Sliced or diced strawberries can be folded into the batter before frying or baking.
- Strawberry jam/jelly – Swirled into the raw dough or used as a filling.
- Dehydrated strawberries – Dried strawberry pieces can be sprinkled on top of finished donuts.
- Strawberry glaze – Made by mixing pureed strawberries with powdered sugar to coat the donuts.
Using fresh strawberries adds pretty flecks of fruit and a natural sweetness. Jam or jelly gives a powerful, concentrated strawberry taste. Dried strawberries and glazes are great for garnishing completed donuts with a burst of strawberry flavor.
Frying vs. Baking
Traditionally, donuts are fried in oil. The hot oil causes the dough to puff up and get that distinctive crispy exterior. Oils like canola, vegetable, peanut, or shortening work well for frying. The temperature must be precisely maintained between 365-375°F to fry donuts to a golden brown without absorbing too much grease.
However, strawberry donuts can also be baked for a lighter, healthier version. Baking uses the leavening power of ingredients like baking powder to make donuts rise. Baked donuts will have a cake-like texture and tend to be denser with a soft interior compared to the airy crispness of fried donuts. Both versions are delicious!
Shaping and Decorating
Strawberry donut dough can be shaped into rounds with a hole in the middle, or into other fun shapes like hearts, flowers or strawberries before frying or baking. Once cooled, the donuts are usually decorated with:
- Glazes – Thin, sweet glazes made from powdered sugar, milk, and strawberry puree.
- Toppings – Sprinkles, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crushed cookies or graham crackers, etc.
- Frosting – Cream cheese or strawberry buttercream frosting piped over the top.
- Drizzles – Melted chocolate or white chocolate artfully drizzled across the donuts.
The decorating options are endless for taking strawberry donuts to the next decorative level!
Ingredients by Weight
Here is an example recipe for strawberry donuts by weight of each ingredient:
| Ingredient | Weight |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 1/4 cups (300g) |
| Granulated sugar | 1/2 cup (100g) |
| Salt | 1/2 tsp (3g) |
| Baking powder | 1 1/2 tsp (6g) |
| Nutmeg | 1/4 tsp (1g) |
| Eggs | 2 large (100g) |
| Milk | 1/2 cup (120ml) |
| Butter, melted | 5 Tbsp (70g) |
| Strawberry jam | 1/2 cup (160g) |
| Vegetable oil for frying | 3-4 cups (720-960ml) |
This makes around 12 standard-sized donuts.
Steps to Make the Dough
Follow these steps to make strawberry donut dough:
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Then add the milk and melted butter and mix together.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and stir to form a thick batter.
- Fold in the strawberry jam until just combined – be careful not to overmix.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flour to hydrate and makes the dough easier to handle.
Cooking Methods
Once chilled, the strawberry donut dough can be fried or baked:
To Fry:
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thick
- Cut into donut shapes using a round cutter. Cut out the centers using a smaller round cutter.
- Carefully drop donuts into hot oil heated to 365-375°F. Fry for 1-2 minutes per side until golden.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
- Decorate with glazes, toppings, or drizzles once cooled.
To Bake:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thick
- Cut into donut shapes using a round cutter. Place onto the baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Rotate pans halfway through.
- Let cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key points to highlight about what strawberry donuts are made of:
- The base is a sweet dough made from flour, sugar, eggs, milk, leavening agents, and butter or oil.
- Real strawberries or strawberry jam provide the fruity flavor.
- Donuts can be fried for a crispy texture or baked for a cake-like texture.
- Glazes, drizzles, and toppings add extra flavor and decoration.
- Standard ingredients include flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, butter, strawberries, oil for frying, and decorations.
With a simple dough, fresh strawberries, and a quick fry or bake, you can easily make these fruit-filled treats at home. Decorating strawberry donuts with colorful glazes and toppings takes them to the next level of tastiness. Experiment with different shapes and flavors to create your own signature strawberry donuts.
Strawberry donuts are the perfect summer dessert. Keep enjoying these bright pink pastries all season long!